Golden Gate Bridge tolls to increase

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco Bay Area officials have decided to increase tolls for drivers crossing the Golden Gate Bridge by $2 by 2018.

The Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District voted Friday to hike the rates for FasTrak and Pay-by-Plate by $1 on April 7, raising them to $6 and $7, respectively.

The rates will then rise by 25 cents in July 2015 and by another 25 cents every year until July 2018.

The rates for carpoolers and people with disabilities will increase by the same rate as FasTrak.

The reason for the toll increase is that the district is facing a $142 million shortfall over five years, and the increase is expected to raise $138 million.